Feeding America Strongly Opposes Proposed Cuts to Food Stamps

March 5, 2013

"Feeding America strongly opposes legislation being introduced in the Senate that would cut $36 billion in critical food assistance for low-income families. This bill would be devastating to millions of vulnerable Americans who are struggling to make ends meet. The assertion that the bill would achieve billions in savings in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) without affecting food on the table is not true.

"If millions of SNAP households see their benefits cut or lose their benefits entirely - as they would under this bill - it will mean less food on the dinner table, in their refrigerator, and on their pantry's shelves.

Additionally, the $387 million in cuts to TEFAP (the Emergency Food Assistance Program) will take food directly away from food banks and the low income clients we serve.

"Food banks and other charities are already stretched thin trying to meet high need for food assistance. Feeding America food banks and other charities could not make up the difference if billions of dollars were cut from the SNAP program and cuts to TEFAP, a significant source of the food our food banks distribute, would lead to 481 million fewer meals for needy families.

"Food bank leaders and staff from dozens of states around the country are on Capitol Hill today telling their members of Congress not to balance the budget on the backs of our most vulnerable. We urge Congress to work together to find balanced solutions to deficit reduction and to reject proposals to cut anti-hunger programs like SNAP and TEFAP."